Molten metal filtering vessel with internal filter

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved filtering vessel for filtering molten metal. The filtering vessel of the present invention is provided with a partition and fitted with a removable filter blade. The partition provides support for the removable filter blade. The removable filter blade contains a filter element. Molten metal is filtered by passing through the filter element contained in the removable filter blade. Molten metal can be made to pass through the filter element by the appropriate application of pressure to the surface of the unfiltered molten metal, by tilting the vessel in such a manner as to cause hydrostatic pressure to force unfiltered molten metal through the filter element, or by removing filtered molten metal with a ladle and thereby causing a differential hydrostatic pressure between the region of the vessel containing filtered molten metal and the region of the vessel containing unfiltered molten metal. During operation molten metal can be intermittently back-flushed through the filter element. Back-flushing molten metal through the filter element extends the life of the filter element, and thereby increases the hours the filtering vessel may be used between changes of the removable filter blade.

What we claim: 
     
       1. A molten metal filtering vessel having an internal wall cavity; a partition attaching to said wall separating said vessel into a first section and a second section;   at least one passage in said partition allowing said first section to communicate with said second section;   a blade positioned in said second section adjacent to said partition having a preformed contour to mate with said wall and having a passage therethrough;   said passage of said blade communicating with said passage of said partition; and   a filter element in said passage of said blade.   
     
     
       2. The vessel of claim 1 further comprising: a non-wetting seal between said blade and the wall of said passage.   
     
     
       3. The vessel of claim 1 further comprising cams attached to said blade said cams being so contoured as to mate with said inner wall of said vessel thereby providing additional support to said blade. 
     
     
       4. The vessel of claim 1 further comprising a dam which extends over the upper lip of the vessel. 
     
     
       5. The vessel of claim 1 wherein the blade is removable. 
     
     
       6. The vessel of claim 5 wherein the removable blade is secured by clamping means. 
     
     
       7. The vessel of claim 6 wherein said clamping means is a C-clamp. 
     
     
       8. The vessel of claim 5 wherein the removable blade is provided with holes to assist in removal of the blade. 
     
     
       9. The vessel of claim 5 wherein the blade is provided with ears that extend above the molten metal. 
     
     
       10. The vessel of claim 5 wherein sealing means are used to secure the blade to the partition in the vessel. 
     
     
       11. The vessel of claim 10 wherein the sealing means comprises a three-layer seal, the first layer being a graphite mat impregnated with a polymer, the second layer being a cloth woven of graphite fibers, and the third layer being a graphite mat impregnated with a polymer. 
     
     
       12. The vessel of claim 10 wherein the sealing means is a refractory felt. 
     
     
       13. The vessel of claim 10 wherein the sealing means is a gasket seal in combination with ribs on the mating surface of the blade.